Training Today: 5 Management No-Nos

Almost everyone has had at least one bad manager during their career, and we all can identify things managers should never do. Here, Ascent Management Consulting identifies some of those management no-nos and offers some advice on what should be done instead.

1. Don’t create a policy every time somebody messes up. Instead, have a productive one-on-one conversation about what went wrong, what problems it caused, what the individual should have done (or not) and why. Use questions to make it a learning moment for the employee so he or she can discover how to fix it.
2. Don’t lie. When something isn’t working out, say it. When you have concerns, share them. Keep your staff apprised of everything going on.
3. Don’t hide behind policies or senior management when making a tough decision. Give reasons. If a policy makes sense, stand by it and explain why. If you believe something is unreasonable or unwarranted, say so.
4. Don’t delegate minor tasks and look over the person’s shoulder to micromanage him or her. Instead, delegate broader responsibilities, providing information and training on the “how,” “what,” and “why,” and trust the person to succeed.
5. Don’t use threats and intimidation. You can discuss employee accountabilities and natural consequences, both positive and negative, without making threats.